Is an international MBA after BSc worth it? Or is an MSc better?
Financial planner, Aanshi Jain, was clear about what she wanted. After completing her Bachelors in Science (BSc in Finance), the gold medalist didn’t go for an MSc. She didn’t jump into an MBA degree either, though it was on her mind right from undergrad.
Instead she chose to improve her profile with the CFA and CFP certifications, while working on building her professional experience.
Many top business schools have started offering GMAT waivers to applicants, taking into consideration the COVID constraints.
Aanshi prepared a list of target MBA programs based on not just GMAT waivers but also those that accepted applicants with 3-year degrees (i.e. 15 years of education) from Indian universities.
In the absence of a GMAT score and no international company brands to boast of, Aanshi knew very well that she’d need to have a strong application strategy. Her biggest competition came from the thousands of engineers who’d be applying to the same MBA programs with high GMAT scores.
MBA after BSc Finance
How I got into top MBA in USA and Canada (scholarship) with GMAT waiver
by Aanshi Jain
As I grew older, I discovered that women in India were rarely involved in financial planning. It upsets me to see such disparity.
This has traditionally been a male role, and many women feel helpless when it comes to their finances.
Though I recognize that a lack of financial knowledge is one of the primary factors holding women back from making financial decisions, I was determined to make a difference.
I was convinced that managing money gives you control over your future, I aspire to facilitate financial autonomy and resilience for women.
To fulfill this ambition, I pursued a B.Sc. in Finance, earning a rank and a gold medal, as well as completing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) programs on my first try.
To help women achieve financial independence, I knew I needed to first understand what the financial services industry has to offer.
I began my professional career as an Investment Product Manager and eventually landed a position with Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co., India’s 5th largest asset management firm.
I worked as an Investment Product Specialist for a $12 billion asset size, including the country’s largest equity fund ($5 billion).
In 2020, despite a global pandemic, hiring freeze, and zero annual increments, I received my promotion to Deputy Product Manager.
I was also honored to be named among India’s Top 100 Women in Finance, a celebrated set of highly accomplished women CEOs and finance professionals.
With around 4 years of work experience, I realized that my learning curve had plateaued. I felt I lacked the necessary skills to ensure financial inclusivity for women.
That’s when MBA entered the picture. Though an MBA has been a long-term goal of mine since undergrad, I felt now was the right time to pursue it. I was prepared for it.
I was intimidated as I learned more about international MBA programs. I wasn’t sure if my profile would be accepted.
I didn’t have a GMAT score or the support of a global brand on my resume. With the pandemic at its peak and the financial markets in complete disarray, the work-from-home workload had reached its limit.
It was extremely difficult to focus on GMAT prep in such a stressful environment, especially with COVID cases at home.
I didn’t want to delay my MBA plans by a year by waiting for the situation to improve before preparing for the GMAT.
I chose to take advantage of the GMAT waiver option offered by a few international universities.
All of the universities agreed that I met the criteria for GMAT Waiver.
I then began shortlisting universities based on my future career goals and began assessing my cultural fit.
I didn’t want my lack of a GMAT score to impede my application. I wanted to put my best foot forward, and I knew I couldn’t do it without the help of a consultant.
To be honest, I didn’t hesitate when it came to approaching MBA Crystal Ball.
Their work ethic and dedication to the candidate were visible to the untrained eye.
Manish Gupta (consulting head at MCB) and his consulting team are genuinely invested in their clients’ success. This was the most important thing to me.
To put a strong application forward, I needed someone who could understand my aspirations and be honest with me in my journey, not just someone who could take me on as a client to boost their sales.
Manish had laid out the disadvantages of not having a GMAT score, but he believed there were strengths in my profile that could be capitalized on. I trusted his judgment.
I had signed up for a 5-school MBA applications consulting package with MBA Crystal Ball, and the consultant assigned to me was Shantanu.
I can’t begin to express how thankful I am to Shantanu. He was more than a consultant in this process; he was also a friend.
With each essay, he recognized my inhibitions, weaknesses, and failures and assisted me in transforming them into my strengths.
I’ve made several last-minute changes right before applying, and he’s always accommodated them.
The fact that MBA Crystal Ball and Shantanu are always available for you at all hours of the day is, in my opinion, their most significant USP.
Shantanu made me feel at ease while working with him, which allowed me to express my most vulnerable self in my essays.
Without Shantanu’s constant guidance, I don’t think I could have articulated my thoughts and experiences in a structured manner.
I applied to Darden School of Business, NYU Stern, Michigan Ross, MIT Sloan, and Rotman School of Management.
Darden School of Business and Rotman School of Management were two of the five schools that accepted me.
I was waitlisted at NYU Stern and turned down by Michigan Ross and MIT Sloan.
Darden offered me no scholarships, whereas Rotman offered me a 50% scholarship.
But I look forward to joining the Darden School of Business. Darden’s 100% case-study learning and inclusive culture were the most appealing aspects to me.
The application process was one of the most challenging and introspective experiences I’ve ever had. It requires you to provide a “why” for each statement you make in your essay.
However, I believe I am a better version of myself as a result of the application process. I feel more connected to my life experiences.
We often forget our past journey in the midst of life’s hustle and bustle. MBA essays will undoubtedly remind you of how far you’ve come.
My advice to Indian MBA aspirants with a background in finance is that they should have their goals in sync.
Finance is a broad field, and it is necessary to determine which field will be most suitable.
Based on that, I would advise you to pursue professional certifications such as CFA, CPA, CFP, and so on.
It not only helps you qualify for a GMAT waiver, but it also helps you upskill yourself prior to the MBA.
It is critical to ask “why” for every action you take from now until the end of your MBA application process.
If you can identify your “why,” you will be in a much better position to write your essays.
Furthermore, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and authentic in your essays. Instead of worrying about the competition, concentrate on what makes you a better candidate.
Drop us an email if you’re planning to apply with a 3-year bachelors degree and looking for professional admissions consulting: info at mbacrystalball dot com
Also read:
– MBA abroad after BSc, BCom, BA, BBA and other 3-year degrees
– Best Masters after BCom: MCom vs MBA vs Master in Finance
– Master’s degree in Canada after Bachelor of Arts
– USA MBA accepting 15 years of education from Indian universities
